I'm guessing the difference is my level of involvement. I wasn't a card-carrying member, nor was I part of the organization. I went to a number of events and reading groups, which I think is why it was more big tent there - draw in the interested first, then hit 'em with the Trotsky stuff down the line? I dunno. It's entirely possible this branch (not going to dox myself with it) was a bit different.

You are right about the theory though. A point of contact I had with the group did ask me a lot about how much theory I'd been reading, which isn't much because I was a working stiff at the time. It did kinda bug me. I'm not anti-theory by any means, but the last thing I wanna do after a shit week of work is crack open a dusty old issue of Das Kapital for the third time.

I'll fully admit to not even being close to an authority on this, or even knowing enough about the org to make a full call.